Jesse Butterfield marries paper and metal in A Veiled Boundary exhibition

Sewn paper and hand-hammered steel sit side by side in these lighting pieces and stools by designer Jesse Butterfield, displayed during London Design Festival 2026. The aptly named Sew Paper Lighting and Stool Des Pois series premiered during Butterfield's A Veil Boundary exhibition, curated by Alex Tieghi-Walker, in the city-wide festival's Brompton Design District. A series of stools and paper lighting comprised the exhibition The paper lanterns continue the centuries-old tradition of using the material to make lampshades, as a result of its physical lightness as well as its translucency. To realise the Sew Paper Lighting series, Butterfield teamed up with The Paper Foundation, a Lake District-based paper mill, founded by sixth-generation papermaker Mark Cropper. Light shades are stitched together "We got to visit The Paper Foundation and see their process, then select six or seven different papers," said Butterfield. "We went through their archive and chose what we thought would have nice drapage and lighting effects, as well as selecting different papers for different applications." The paper used in the lamps is handmade in the Lake District Slim stainless steel frames dictate each piece's general form and purpose: from pendants and wall lights to floor and table lamps. Beyond this, the lanterns strewn around the space comprise folded, draped and otherwise physically manipulated handmade paper, hand-stitched into amorphous shapes. In dialogue with the paper lamps, Butterfield's Stool Des Pois series explores the sheet metal's capacity to behave in a similar way to paper. A paper model was the natural starting point for the stool, which was then scaled up and recreated in steel, heated and hammered by hand until a thinness and lightness akin to paper was achieved. The stools are decorated with a hammered texture and singed spots The stools are based on the same initial model and dimensions, with natural variations owing to their handmade nature, ensuring that no two are entirely alike. Further distinction is made through the polka dot patterning, a result of intentional blackening of the metal which introduces further visual interest while telling the story of their manufacturing process. Both items feature elements made from or informed by paper and metal "This is the first time where I'm leaving the dots on the surface," said Butterfield. "They come from the making process – in the past I've sanded them away, but I wanted to bring them in now as they fit with the theme of things being perfectly imperfect," he added, nodding to the leitmotif of this year's Brompton Design District programme. Elsewhere in the district, RCA students exhibited a series of stools created with a single tool and Isamaya French launched her second-ever Studio Iron show. The photography is by Andy Stagg. A Veil Boundary was on show from 12 to 20 September as part of London Design Festival. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world. Subscribe to our newsletters Your email address New! Dezeen Agenda US Sent on alternate Fridays, this US edition of Dezeen Agenda is a fortnightly newsletter rounding up everything you need to know from America, featuring news, projects and interviews with industry figures. Plus occasional updates and invitations to Dezeen events. New! Dezeen Showroom New Releases A quarterly newsletter rounding up a selection of recently launched products by designers and studios, published on Dezeen Showroom. 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